Unit of Algae biology and physiology
Lab of Algae biology and physiology
tel. ++39-0544-937376
fax ++39-0544-937411
Group Leader: Prof. Rossella PIstocchi
E-mail : rossella.pistocchi@unibo.it
Research in progress :
- The laboratory has a specific expertise in the isolation of microalgae from marine field samples and in their cultivation. It operates mainly in the harmful algae field, thus, following the occurrence of new species in seawater and of new toxins in mussels, it performs monoclonal cultures which permit to study the problem at the species or clone level. Harmful algae can exert their effects through the excretion of large amount of mucous polysaccharides, through the production of biotoxins or the production of high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids affecting marine animal metabolism. Other research clues consist in the molecular characterization of the species through 18S and 28S rDNA sequencing, in studying the effect of environmental parameters on the production of toxin or of other molecules of interest and in characterizing the response of the algae to environmental stresses through the analysis of metal-binding peptides and antioxidant compounds.
Funding :
- MAT (Mucillagini dell’Adriatico e del Tirreno)
- SINAPSI (Variabilità climatica degli ecosistemi marini)
- ANTARTIDE (Ricerche sul contenuto lipidico in fitoplancton dell’Oceano Meridionale)
- PRIN 2002 (MIUR) "Tossine algali contaminanti i molluschi bivalvi nelle acque costiere italiane: caratteristiche, produzione, accumulo e azioni".
- PRIN 2004 (MIUR) "Tossine algali contaminanti i molluschi bivalvi nelle acque costiere italiane: caratteristiche, produzione, accumulo e azioni".
- REGIONE EMILIA-ROMAGNA "Messa a punto di metodiche per la determinazione del rischio sanitario ed ambientale dovuto allo sviluppo di alghe tossiche nel Mare Adriatico".
- PRIN 2004 Tossine algali contaminati i molluschi bivalvi nelle acque costiere italiane: caratteristiche, produzione, accumulo, azioni e rischio per la salute umana
- PRIN 2005 Risposte a rame e zinco in cloni di pioppo tolleranti i metalli pesanti: profili di espressione genica e di proteine, relazioni con lo stress ossidativo e con i microrganismi del suolo.
- 2007-2008 “Flussi idrici e di nutrienti dalla collina alla costa. Uno strumento per la valutazione della qualità di ecosistemi in Emilia-Romagna (FINQuER).” Progetto strategico dell’Università di Bologna
- 2007-2008 APIEnergia “Studio sulle possibili interazioni esistenti tra refluo termico della centrale IGCC di proprietà della APIEnergia e la comparsa, crescita e tossicità della microalga Fibrocapsa japonica lungo le coste marchigiane con particolare riferimento all’area AERCA.”
- 2008-2010 VII PQ – Progetto MEECE: Marine Ecosystem Evolution in a Changing Environment.
- PRIN 2007 Biotossine marine presenti nelle acque costiere italiane: caratteristiche, origine, azioni
Patents :
-
Selected Publications :
- Cucchiari E, Guerrini F, Penna A, Totti C, Pistocchi R 2008 Effect of salinity, temperature, organic and inorganic nutrients on growth of cultured Fibrocapsa japonica (Raphidophyceae) from the northern Adriatic Sea. Harmful Algae 7: 405-414
- Riccardi M, Guerrini F, Roncarati F, Milandri A, Cangini M, Pigozzi S, Riccardi E, Ceredi A, Ciminiello P, Dell’Aversano C, Fattorusso E, Forino M, Tartaglione L, Pistocchi R 2008 Gonyaulax spinifera from the Adriatic sea: toxin production and phylogenetic analysis. Harmful Algae in press
- Roncarati F., Rijstenbil JW, Pistocchi R. 2008 Photosynthetic performance, oxidative damage and antioxidants in Cylindrotheca closterium in response to high irradiance, UVB radiation and salinity. Mar. Biol. 153: 965-973
- Riccardi M., Guerrini F., Tinti F., Boni L., Pistocchi R. 2007 Species-specific probe, based on 18s rDNAsequence, could be used for identification of the mucilage producer microalga Gonyaulax fragilis (Dinophyta). Hydrobiologia 580: 259-263
- Guerrini F, Ciminiello C, Dell’Aversano C, Tartaglione L, Fattorusso E, Boni L, Pistocchi R 2007 Influence of temperature, salinity and nutrient limitation on yessotoxin production and release by the dinoflagellate Protoceratium reticulatum in batch-cultures. Harmful Algae 6: 707-717
- Ciminiello C, Dell’Aversano C, Fattorusso E, Forino M., Grauso L., Tartaglione L, Guerrini F, Pistocchi R. 2007 Spirolide toxin profile of Adriatic Alexandrium ostenfeldii cultures and structure elucidation of 27-hydroxy-13,19-didesmethyl spirolide C. J. Nat Prod. 70: 1878-1883
- Ciminiello P., Dell’Aversano C., Fattorusso E., Forino M., Magno S., Tartaglione L., Cangini M., Pompei M., Guerrini F., Boni L., Pistocchi R. 2006 Toxin profile of Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Dinophyceae) from the Northern Adriatic Sea revealed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Toxicon 47: 597-604
- Serrazanetti G.P., Folicaldi A, Guerrini F., Monti G., Pistocchi R., Boni L. 2006 Microalgal lipid markers for paleoclimatic research Clim Res 31: 145-150
- Pistocchi R, Cangini M, Totti C, Urbani R, Guerrini F, Romagnoli T, Sist P, Palamidesi S, Boni L, Pompei M. 2005 Relevance of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax fragilis in mucilage formations of the Adriatic Sea. Sci. Tot. Env. 353: 307-316
- Pistocchi R, Trigari G., Serrazanetti G, Taddei P, Monti G, Palamidesi S, Guerrini F, Bottura G, Serratore P, Fabbri M, Pirini M, Ventrella V, Pagliarani A, Boni L, Borgatti AR 2005 Chemical and biochemical parameters of cultured diatoms and bacteria from the Adriatic Sea as possible biomarkers of mucilage production. Sci. Tot. Env. 353: 287-299
- Pompei M., Mazziotti C., Guerrini F., Cangini M., Pigozzi S., Benzi M., Palamidesi S., Boni L., Pistocchi R. 2003 Correlation between the presence of Gonyaulax fragilis (Dinophyceae) and the mucilage phenomena of the Emilia-Romagna coast (northern Adriatic Sea). Harmful Algae 2: 301-316
- Ciminiello P., Dell’Aversano C., Fattorusso E., Forino M., Magno S., Guerrini F., Pistocchi R., Boni L. 2003 Complex yessotoxins profile in Protoceratium reticulatum from north-western Adriatic Sea revealed by LC-MS analysis. Toxicon 42: 7-14
- Guerrini F, Cangini M, Trost P., Boni L., Pistocchi R 2000 Metabolic responses of the diatom Achnantes brevipes (Bacillariophyceae) to nutrient limitation. J. Phycol. 36: 882-890
- Beani L, Bianchi C, Guerrini F, Marani L, Pistocchi R, Tomasini MC, Ceredi A, Milandri A, Poletti R, Boni L. 2000 High sensitivity bioassay of paralytic (PSP) and amnesic (ASP) algal toxins based on the fluorimetric detection of [Ca2+]i in rat cortical primary cultures. Toxicon 38: 1283-1297
Postgraduate training :
- PhD course on Environmental sciences, preservation and management of natural resources
Collaborations :
- : Reference Institute for Marine Toxins, Cesenatico (Italy)
- : Arpa SOD Emilia Romagna (Italy), Daphne Operational Unit
- : University of Napoli (Italy)
- : University of Ancona (Italy)
- : The Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO)
Links :
Biologia e Fisiologia delle Alghe
http://cirsa.ambra.unibo.it
Arpa - Struttura Oceanografica Daphne
http://www.arpa.emr.it/daphne
Centro Ricerche Marine
http://www.regione.emilia-romagna.it/crm/descr_crm.htm
The Harmful Algae Page
http://www.whoi.edu/redtide
Netherlands Institute of Ecology
http://www.nioo.knaw.nl
Società Italiana di Biologia Marina
http://www.sibm.unige.it
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. ISMAR
http://www.ismar.cnr.it
Research group :
Laura Pezzolesi (PhD student)
Giulia Samorì fellowship owners
Manuela Riccardi postdoc
Franca Guerrini (Lab technician)
Rossella Pistocchi (Research Associate)
